(VOVWORLD) - Over the past few days, the Vietnamese government has organized several flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens from combat zones in Ukraine after providing them with accommodation, food, and other necessities during their evacuation from Ukraine to neighboring countries.
Some 7,000 Vietnamese were living in Ukraine at the start of Russia’s special military operation there. In the past few days, Vietnam has safely repatriated more than 1,100 of them. Two flights were paid for by the State and two others were paid for by private businesses.
Top priority given to safety of Vietnamese citizens
As soon as the situation in Ukraine became threatening, Vietnamese leaders starting taking steps to ensure the security and safety and protect the rights of all Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine.
 President Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a meeting on the protection of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine (Photo: VOV) |
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: "We’re determined to protect Vietnamese people in the combat zones in Ukraine. We need to pay special attention to protecting them from injury, hunger and cold during their evacuation. We must uphold the humanitarian spirit and our responsibility for protecting our citizens."
The government has set up a special working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh to deal with problems relating to the situation in Ukraine. The Prime Minister issued directives on protecting Vietnamese citizens and their legal rights, and resolving their problems. He stressed the importance of ensuring the security and safety of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine and their property, while working out ways to evacuate them.
As of Saturday, more than 4,500 Vietnamese had fled Ukraine. Working closely with local agencies, Vietnamese associations have provided transportation, accommodation, and food and other necessities and helped people complete procedures to return to Vietnam.
 Ambassador Nguyen Hung on a mission to evacuate Vietnamese people from Ukraine to Poland (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Poland) |
Nguyen Hung, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Poland and Lithuania, said: "Many Vietnamese people from Ukraine are arriving without the passports and other documents required by Poland’s regulations. The Vietnamese Embassy in Poland is working with the local border agency to help them. We have provided emergency verification and guarantees to the Polish border agency to let them enter Poland."
National solidarity upheld
Thanks to resolute, prompt action by Vietnamese authorities, thousands of Vietnamese have been safely evacuated from Ukraine.
 Staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland help evacuees with customs procedures (Photo: VNA) |
Luu Thi Hao is one of the evacuees. She said: "I’m very grateful to the State for helping us return home safely. We would all like to thank the Vietnamese people in Romania and Moldova for helping us in a difficult moment. We never imagined we would have any chance of returning home, but the support of the Vietnamese embassy and the Vietnamese community made it possible. We’re home now."
Ms. Nguyen Thi En, another returnee, said: "I’m very happy to be home, thanks to the State’s support. The Vietnamese community overseas generously helped us with accommodation, food, and transportation. Wherever they are, Vietnamese people always share and help one another, especially in times of great difficulty. Vietnamese embassies did everything they could to help us. "
In the coming days there will be more repatriation flights. Those who remain in Europe will continue to receive support from Vietnamese embassies and the Vietnamese overseas community.